The Seniors Intervention Group is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to sustaining and improving the quality of life for Seminole County seniors. While non-perishable food pantries are filling up over the holiday season, many seniors also struggle to feed their beloved pets. Please help us feed these pets by donating wet or dry cat and dog food this holiday season. Donations will be collected at One Senior Place Greater Orlando located at 715 Douglas Avenue in Altamonte Springs, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

March 2, 2019 Patriotic Musical Salute & More

One Senior Place, the Viera marketplace for senior resources, will present the sixth annual Every Day is Veterans Day, a patriotic concert event at the Scott Center for the Performing Arts at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Suntree on Saturday, March 2, 2019. The public is invited to the free musical salute to veterans at 5625 Holy Trinity Drive in north Melbourne, 32940. Co-sponsored by VITAS Healthcare, Every Day is Veterans Day will feature a 3:00 PM pre-concert reception for the public, with refreshments and information from numerous veteran and military organizations. At 4:00 PM, “Reveille” will open a patriotic concert by the Space Coast Symphony Winds and Indialantic Chamber Singers, followed by a Posting of the Colors. After a moving rendition of the national anthem by The Indialantic Chamber Singers and soloist Beth Green, the Space Coast Highlanders bagpipe and drum corps will proceed through the 800-seat auditorium. Rousing marches by John Philip Sousa as well as songs of America will be performed for the enjoyment of the audience, which is invited to wear red white and blue in patriotic solidarity. A military chaplain will provide the invocation and benediction for the event and “Taps” will be played at the conclusion of the concert. There is no charge for the reception or the concert and free tickets will be available in the coming months. For more information, call One Senior Place at 321-751-6771.

State-of-the-art Therapy Room for Alzheimer’s, Dementia Patients at Suntree’s Only Senior Living Community

(SUNTREE, FL) October 8, 2018 – The new Chateau Madeleine, Suntree’s only senior living community will bring a little bit of Holland to Brevard, in the form of a 325 sq. ft. custom designed “multi-sensory therapy room” for use with Alzheimer’s and dementia residents. Known as a Snoezelen®, the Dutch-conceived multi-sensory environment will be built inside the memory care and senior living community that is nearing completion adjacent to the Fresh Market off Wickham Road in Suntree. The term Snoezelen comes from two Dutch verbs: “snuffelen” (to seek and explore) and “doezelen,” (to relax). Snoezelen multi-sensory environments are relaxing spaces that help reduce agitation and anxiety, but they can also engage and delight the user, stimulate reactions and encourage communication. Memory enrichment programs, family support groups, pet therapy, supervised activities, mobility and transport assistance as well personal living assistance for bathing, dressing, medicine administration, grooming and more will all be included for one monthly price at Chateau Madeleine. 24-hour on-site licensed health care professionals and around the clock emergency response monitoring will provide additional peace of mind for residents and family members alike. Pet friendly, the locally owned and operated 70,000 sq. ft. senior living community will offer residents the opportunity to “age in place.” In addition to large private rooms for memory care residents, both one and two bedroom luxury apartments are planned for supported independent living and assisted living residents. Three chef-prepared meals per day and concierge services are included in the monthly rental price, with no buy-in fee. Pre-Lease reservations feature a special monthly rate for three years. For more information about Chateau Madeleine, call (321) 701-8000 or visit www.SuntreeSeniorLiving.com.

The Snoezelen® is a ‘multi-sensory environment’ which can be customized for a variety of user experiences. Chateau Madeleine, Suntree’s new senior living community will feature a Snoezelen therapy room for residents with Alzheimer’s and related dementia. For more information, call 321-701-8000. photo/rendering courtesy of chateau madeleine

ChateauMadeleine Administrator, Ron Aylward shared that staff has been overwhelmed by the intense interest in Suntree’s only senior living community and especially in the Snoezelen multi-sensory therapy available to memory care residents.

“Therapy in the multi-sensory environment at Chateau Madeleine is a real game changer,” said Aylward. “This is the first Snoezelen in a memory care setting in Central Florida, and the benefits to the resident patient include greater awareness and attention along with an overall improvement in quality of life.” Because Chateau Madeleine was started by a physician, the latest medical advances were considered during its design. We have Dr. Abe Hardoon to thank for that.”

Yvette Jenkin, Director of Sales and Marketing, went into more detail about how the Snoezelen would be used for residents and its ability to provide a customized experience via a wifi controller.

“The room is designed to offer supervised multi-sensory therapy for up to three residents at a time. Family members can be trained in the use of the Snoezelen controller, so they can also use the Snoezelen with their loved ones. We are able to customize the therapy to any one of numerous experiences for the resident, depending on their assessment. One person may require a therapy that provides active engagement, while another resident may benefit from a calming session. This is truly amazing, state-of-the-art technology that will be available right here in Suntree.”

For Chateau Madeleine pre-leasing information or to schedule an appointment, contact Yvette Jenkin at 321-701-8000 or visit www.SuntreeSeniorLiving.com.

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Photo (attached) – The Snoezelen® is a ‘multi-sensory environment’ which can be customized for a variety of user experiences. Chateau Madeleine, Suntree’s new senior living community will feature a Snoezelen therapy room for residents with Alzheimer’s and related dementia. For more information, call 321-701-8000. photo/rendering courtesy of chateau madeleine

About Chateau Madeleine– Begun by Dr. Abe Hardoon, Chateau Madeleine Senior Living & Memory Care is located in the Suntree area of Brevard County, Florida. A resort-like community designed for aging in place, locally owned Chateau Madeleine features spacious one and two bedroom apartments for residents desiring supported independent living and assisted living. Large private rooms are available for those requiring memory care. The pet-friendly and non-smoking campus features world class amenities, three chef-prepared daily meals and platinum concierge services for one all-inclusive monthly rental fee. Licensed on site medical staff and assistance with activities for daily living provide peace of mind in a luxurious environment of care, comfort and compassion. For pre-leasing information or to schedule an appointment, contact Yvette Jenkin at 321-701-8000 or visit www.SuntreeSeniorLiving.com. ALF License pending.

The Orlando Office of the Senior Community Service Employment Program has a several slots available for adults age 55+ who are looking to re-enter the job market.

Adults age 55+ who meet federal program guidelines are then matched with local nonprofits and government agencies so they can increase skills and build self-confidence, while earning a modest salary. This is a “job training” program and is a path toward permanent employment in the community. Click here to see the AARP website for more details.

Federal guidelines include – but are not limited to:

Income 125% of Federal Poverty Level

Age 55+

CALL the Orlando Office for more information – 407-852-1608 …. One Senior Place does not have any additional information on this program.

Thank you for sharing in the community and helping adults age 55+ know there are slots available in this program.

As elder law attorneys, one of the most common questions we are asked by clients is whether Medicaid can take their Florida homestead property. The simple answer is “No, generally Medicaid cannot take your homestead property during life, or, with proper planning, upon death.” But, as is the case with most legal questions, the answer isn’t always so straight forward. This article is a more complete answer to the question at hand.

One of the reasons there seems to be a lot of confusion and misinformation regarding whether Medicaid can take homestead property is likely due to the fact that Medicaid rules vary from state to state. When applying for Medicaid benefits in Florida, the homestead is considered exempt and protected if: 1) a spouse or dependent/disabled child continues to reside in the home; or 2) the individual (or, on his or her behalf, a designated representative) states an “intent to return” home. The homestead will remain exempt during the lifetime of the applicant if the above criteria is met.

In addition, Florida has constitutional protection for homestead many states do not offer. In many states, creditors, including Medicaid, can force the sale of homestead property. This is not the case in Florida if the home is left to the surviving spouse or other family member. So, if you are discussing this issue with your brother in New Jersey there might be a different answer for New Jersey homestead but here in Florida, an individual can qualify for Medicaid while still owning his or her home.

So, what exactly is homestead? The Florida Constitution defines homestead as real property of no more than 1/2 of an acre of contiguous land in a municipality, or 160 acres outside a municipality, owned by a natural person, and the improvements on it. There is extensive case law about what exactly constitutes homestead, but that is beyond the scope of this article. For purposes of this article, homestead is the dwelling and attached land where you, or your family, reside. Rental properties and vacation homes are not typically considered homestead property. Further, in Florida, an individual can usually only have one homestead property. Homestead property is protected from Medicaid under Florida law, but additional properties are not.

It is important to keep in mind there are scenarios that may cause a Medicaid recipient to lose their homestead during their lifetime. Although the Medicaid rules allow retention of homestead as an asset, the Medicaid income rules can create practical challenges. Once approved for Medicaid, the bulk of the individual’s monthly income must be paid to the nursing home where the person is residing. Consequently, even though the homestead is not considered a countable asset, the real problem occurs if the applicant or applicant’s family can no longer afford to pay the taxes, insurance, and/or mortgage on the homestead property. If expenses on the home cannot be paid, Medicaid will not take the person’s home, but the inability to pay for upkeep and maintenance could force the sale of the home and, upon the sale of the home, the proceeds from the sale are not protected and may cause the loss of Medicaid eligibility if not timely planned for.

As you can see, the question of whether Medicaid can take your Florida homestead is not a simple answer of “Yes” or “No.” There are several factors that determine the correct answer. It is always prudent to consult with an elder law attorney regarding your specific situation in order to receive the most appropriate explanation. If you have questions concerning qualifying for Medicaid or any other elder law issue, please contact the Law Offices of Hoyt & Bryan at (407) 977-8080.

The City of Lake Mary and the Lake Mary Elder Affairs Commission will host the 12th annual Shred-A-Thon on Saturday, January 26, 2019 from 9:00am until 1:00pm. The event will be held at 660 Century Point, in the Digital Risk parking lot. Located a short distance from the Senior Center, exit Rinehart Road on Wallace Court and then turn right on Century Point. In January 2018, the event attracted more than 1,300 citizens and small businesses who shredded more than 49 tons of material.

The Shred-A-Thon is being repeated to maintain awareness of identity theft and to provide citizens and small businesses of Lake Mary and surrounding areas an opportunity to safely dispose of sensitive personal and business documents. The theft of sensitive personal information is a significant contributor to identity theft. Computer hard drives will also be destroyed on site.

Supporting Sponsors contribute $50 or more and may place advertising, promotional material and coupons in special bags that will be given to the first 1,000 participants. All materials to be placed in the bags must be delivered to the Senior Center by the close of business on January 21.

All contributions, regardless of amount, are welcome and appreciated. The City of Lake Mary is recognized by the IRS as a 170 (c) organization permitted to accept donations, which may be tax deductible.

Funds raised since the inaugural event in 2007 have been used to expand Senior programs and activities as well as an expansion in 2017. Citizen participation at the Senior Center during the same period has increased by more than 55%. Attendance is expected to again top 27,000 this year.